Facing Reality

Chapter 2

    I sat at the edge of the dock, stretching my legs out far enough into the water to wet my feet. I felt bad about how Sarah and my girl's night ended. To be honest, I had thought it would have calmed my nightmares to have her in the same room as me.

    I sighed,  took out my pocket knife, and began carving mindlessly into the wood of the dock.

    "Hey there, stranger," a deep, familiar voice said. I felt him sit down beside me.

    "Hey yourself, Luke." I let my gaze stray to his green eyes. They were a brilliant emerald today, complimented by his forest green shirt.

    "Fishing with you feet?" he teased, gesturing my wet legs.

    I rolled my eyes and turned back to carving up the dock. "Obviously."

    Suddenly, I felt hands grip my shoulders and shove me toward the water. Luke caught me before I fell in, laughing at the little scream I had let out.

    I huffed at him and shoved his shoulder. "Don't do that! It's not funny!"

    He smirked at me, running his hand through his military cut hair. "Oh, but it is."

    I rolled my eyes for a second time and got to my feet. As I turned away, I heard him get up as well. Then his hand was on my wrist.

    I turned back toward him and studied his expression. He had dropped the playful act, and now he was frowning with concern. "You look tired."

    I shrugged and glanced down. "You were in the military, Luke. You know how hard it is to sleep some nights."

    He was silent for a long moment, and I wondered what he was thinking. I knew Luke didn't believe my story of being in the army. In fact, I was sure he could see right through me. He had ten years of experience around real soldiers. Why he played along with my story was beyond me. I knew if our roles were switched, I would have confronted him almost immediately.

    "Yeah. I guess I do," he finally replied, letting go of my wrist.

    I bit my lip, not liking how serious the moment got. An idea came to me, and I smirked up at Luke. He narrowed his eyes warily and took a step back. "What?"

    Without any explanation, I slipped behind him till I was facing his back and jump up onto him. His hands automatically came up to keep me from falling off. "A piggyback ride?" he asked, amusement in his voice as he turned his head to glanced over his shoulder at me.

    I laughed. "Don't judge. It's been forever since I've had one."

    "Well, I hope you are holding on tight, because you're about to get the ride of a life time," he warned playfully.

    Too late, I realized I should have tried to lighten the mood some other way. I shrieked as Luke took off down the docks toward the bait shop. "Put me down!" I screamed, holding onto him for dear life.

    "You asked for it," he shot back. He did a little twirl to avoid a barrel and abruptly came to a stop just outside the bait shop.

    I struggled against him, wanting more than anything to have my feet back safely on the ground. He let me go and turned toward me, excitement lighting up his eyes. "That was fun."

    I couldn't hold back my laughter. "You owe me an ice cream now!" I told him.

    He raised an eyebrow at my comment. "Do you really want to go there, because, in that case, I think you're the one who owes me. I did just carry you all the way from the docks to here."

    I relented and bought us both ice cream. As we ate the treat, we walked down the sidewalk toward the beach.

    Luke was the first one to break the silence. "How's the house been?"

    I made a face. "Me and the rental have clashed everyday since the moment I moved in. It seems to have it out for me. The latest attack that has been launched on me is a lizard I found in the shower yesterday morning."

    Luke made a face. "What did you do with it?"

    I didn't answer, feeling slightly sheepish.

    "You didn't do anything, did you? You left it?"

    I nodded slowly then tried to defend myself. "Cause what if it had rabies or something?" I paused, tilting my head to the side. "Can lizards get rabies?"

    Luke sighed. "I'll come over later and help you with it as long as it's still in the bathroom and I don't have to do looking for it."

    I gave him a quick side hug. "You're the best."

    "I know," he told me with a smirk.

    Before I could tell him off for his big ego, I froze. Barely twenty feet away from us sat a blue mustang convertible. The license plate read TAP 20Z8.

    "Riley?" Luke's voice cut through my fear.

    I glanced at him then back at the car. "I-I need to go. Now." I whirled around and started walking as fast as I dared in the opposite direction of the car.

    Luke caught up to me quickly. "Riley, whatever is going on, I can help," he told me in a low voice.

    I wanted so badly to tell him, to give up the details of my real life and let him share the burden with me. But I couldn't. Telling him would only put him in danger. Telling him could get him killed, and I couldn't let that happen.

    I swallowed down the truth and lied through my teeth. "I'm just tired, Luke. I need to get home and rest."

    I knew I wouldn't rest. I had to pack and run. No matter how much the thought of it hurt, I knew I had to. If they were here, it was only a matter of time before I was discovered. Then I was a dead woman.